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The Peole
Tamil Nadu is one of the most
urbanised states of India, but it is still primarily rural. Most of the
people live in more than 64,000 nucleated villages. There
is an established caste system, and the traditional differentiations here
are a lot more pronounced than in many other parts of the country. The largest distribution of
population is mostly confined to the Chennai metropolitan covering
industrial areas, townships and villages surrounding Chennai city, and
those around Madurai, Coimbatore, and Tiruchchirappalli. More
than 80% of the state's population follows Hinduism. Christianity and
Islam are also followed here.
The Brahmins which forms the highest caste normally is distinguishable
with a religious white mark on their forehead. Earlier
their work used to be confined to religious activities and astrological
profession. They were almost wholly dependent on villages gifted to them
by successive kings. Simple living and high thinking was their way of
life.
Communities
such as Vellalas (known as Gounders in Coimbatore, Mudaliars in Chingleput
and other areas, Pillais in Thirunelveli district) took to a large scale
agriculture, they supervised agriculture operations and they had
their income through sale of the produce. The Village -traders
belonged to a few Vaishya communities such as Komutti Chettiars.
Shaanaars,
who were toddy - tappers since independence emerged as a prosperous
mercantile community by their enterprise. The untouchables have been the
main agricultural labourers. These communities did the job assigned
to them and eked out their livelihood. In each village, there were
dhobis and barbers.
Tribes have had a
special place in Tamil history. There was a classification of
tribes according to landscapes. The chieftain of each tribal
group and his wife were given an honoured place. In
the mountains, hills and hilly tracts such as Palani hills, the Nilgiris and the
Western Ghats, the distinguished
chieftain was known as Poruppan, Verppan and Cilampan, his
spouse was known as Koticci or Kuratti. The mountain tribe,
of which the poruppan was the chieftain was divided into two main Phratries.
The members of the two Phratries were known as Kanavar
and Kurava and spouses Kurattiyar. The Badagas,
Kotas, and Todas are other
tribes found in the Nilgiri hills.
In the Thanjavur deltaic area, the leader of the settlement
is known as Makilnam or Uran and his wife is called Manaive or Kilatti.
The members of this rich agricultural settlement were ulavar
with their Ulattiyar and Kataiyar with their Kataicciyar. In
the coastal region, the tribal chief was known as Cerppan or
Pulampan and his wife as Paratti or Nulaicci.
The pattern and lay out of streets, houses and community centres
was the same every where in  Tamil
Nadu. Each village was built around or near a temple and the priests who were
invariably Brahmins lived in the areas called 'Agraharam'.
Adjoining them lived Pillais and Mudaliars. Trading
communities had their habitation in the area next to these central
streets. The untouchables lived on the outskirts of the village.
Orthodoxy and conservatism are now giving place to
rationalism. The village and town plans are rapidly
changing. Some of the Agraharams are occupied in part of people of
other caste. Followers of religions other than Hinduism used
to live in groups either out side the village or in
clusters on a portion. The festivals bring all the castes together. Each caste has a role to play in the conduct of the festival.
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